Amazon Scams (full list of scams to watch out for)
When shopping on Amazon, customers need to be aware of a lot of scams. From fake reviews to counterfeit products, scammers have many tricks.
This blog post will cover all the different types of scams you need to be aware of when shopping on Amazon. So, read on and stay safe!
Amazon scams in 2022
Scams targeting Amazon shoppers have rapidly increased in recent years. From sellers selling counterfeit products to pop-ups, there’s a lot to look out for in 2022. Amazon customers must be wary of the means by which scammers gain access to sensitive data such as sensitive data through fraudulent text messages, phone calls and emails. Amazon.
Check out this list of common Amazon scams and tips to avoid them in the future, plus other related facts!
What are the most common Amazon scams?
According to a recent New York Post article, scams on Amazon have increased by 500% since 2021.
There are several different types of Amazon scams going on, so it’s important to be aware of them so you don’t fall victim to them.
1. Delivery Failure Scam
One scam targets Amazon instead of shoppers.
In a fake delivery scam, someone orders an item from Amazon and then claims they never received it.
They will then contact customer service and try to get a refund.
This can be difficult to spot because the person may have a fake order number, or they may have deleted the email confirmation.
Ultimately, this scam can affect customers as sellers on Amazon can’t make a profit and prices go up as a result.
2. Counterfeit products
Another type of scam is when someone sells you an item that is counterfeit or not as described.
Receiving a counterfeit product can be dangerous because you may end up with a counterfeit product that doesn’t work or can be a health or safety hazard.
3. Amazon customer service phone scam
Another scam had phishers contact customers and say they were from Amazon customer service.
When contacting shoppers, these fake reps may say there is a problem with your account or order.
They will then ask you to provide personal information, such as your credit card number or social security number.
In other cases, they might say there’s a problem with your Amazon Prime membership and then ask you to update your credit card information.
If you get a call claiming to be from Amazon, it’s probably a scam, as Amazon never calls customers out of the blue.
If you get a call from someone claiming to be from Amazon, don’t give them any personal information. Instead, hang up and report to Amazon.
4. Email
Be aware of any emails you receive that appear to be from Amazon but are actually from a different website.
These emails may contain viruses or links to websites where you enter your Amazon login information, and the crooks can then gain access to your account.
So if you’re not sure if an email is really from Amazon, please forward it to stop-spoofing@amazon.com.
5. Fake reviews by third-party sellers
When customers buy from a third-party seller on Amazon, they’re taking a risk because you don’t know if the seller is reputable.
Often, scammers create fake websites that look like Amazon and then post fake reviews to lure people in. So, be sure to do your research before buying from a third-party seller.
6. Phishing Text
Occasionally, shoppers may receive text messages from scammers claiming to be from Amazon.
Phishing scams are when scammers try to get your personal information by pretending to be an email or text message from a reputable company.
In the text, they may say there is a problem with your order or account, and then ask you to click a link.
After clicking this link, shoppers may be taken to a fake website and prompted for Amazon’s private login information, otherwise it will download a virus to their phone.
Either way, don’t click the link and report the text message to Amazon.
7. Popup
Again, watch out if you see a popup that looks like it’s from Amazon. Often, these pop-ups may contain viruses or links to fake websites.
So don’t click anything in the popup and close it as soon as possible.
8. iPhone
If you’re an iPhone user, watch out for scam calls masquerading as Apple Support and try to access your phone remotely.
To access private data, they might say there’s a problem with your iCloud account or iPhone, and then ask for your password.
Once they have your password, they can access all the information on your phone. So if you get a call like this, hang up and call Apple Support to report it yourself.
9. Free stuff scam
With free item scams, scammers contact shoppers and say they see you viewing a specific item on Amazon.
Then they will say they have one they are not using and offer to send it to you for free.
However, when you give them your address, they will actually give you a fake or empty box, or they may give you an old item instead of what they say it is in.
10. Sell Mystery Boxes
Another similar scam targets scammers selling mystery boxes on Amazon.
Generally, these scammers will say that you’ll get a certain amount of items for a low price, but when you receive the box, it’s either empty or contains items worth far less than what you paid for.
11. Extended Warranty Scams
Sometimes scammers will contact shoppers saying they are from Amazon customer service and then try to get you to sign up for an extended warranty on your Amazon purchase.
They might even say they can give you a refund if you sign up for a warranty.
While some products have warranties that can be purchased on Amazon, this is a scam and you should never give them your credit card information.
12. Amazon pallets for sale
Some scammers will sell Amazon pallets on sites like Craigslist or eBay. They will say the pallet is full of Amazon returned items.
However, when you receive the pallet, it is either empty or contains damaged or broken items.
13. Amazon Prime Gift SMS
Another type of phishing text indicates that you have received or won a gift card that you can claim by simply clicking on the link.
However, when you click on the link, you will be taken to a fake website that will try to steal your information.
14. Amazon Locked Account
With this scam, shoppers receive what appears to be an email or text message from Amazon stating that their account has been locked due to a problem.
To access their account, they need to click on the link to update their Amazon account information. However, this is just another way to steal customers’ private information.
15. Amazon FreePlay
In this scam, shoppers receive what appears to be an email or text message from Amazon that says they can get a free Playstation if they click on a link and investigate.
While this offer sounds great, it’s another tactic used by scammers to obtain personal information.
16. Amazon Free Shipping Scam
Scammers sometimes reach out to shoppers by offering free shipping on their next Amazon order.
To get the free shipping offer, shoppers will be directed to a fake website and enter their Amazon account information.
If you’re interested in safely getting free shipping, consider signing up for Amazon Prime.
With Amazon Prime, shoppers get free 2-day shipping on thousands of Amazon’s popular products.
17. Amazon Works From Home
Remote work has grown in popularity lately, with scammers taking advantage of Amazon’s work-from-home jobs to target job applicants.
In this scam, shoppers receive what appears to be an email or text message from Amazon saying you can work from home for Amazon and make a lot of money.
However, when you click the link to apply, you will be taken to a fake website that will try to steal the applicant’s information.
To find legitimate Amazon jobs, including those eligible for remote work, search Amazon Jobs.
To learn more, you can also read our posts on whether Amazon sends text messages, fake Amazon emails, and whether Amazon reviews are fake.
in conclusion
These are just some of the scams that have been happening on Amazon recently. Be sure to do your research and never disclose your personal information to anyone you don’t know. Finally, if you think you’ve been scammed, contact Amazon customer service immediately.
